In what figures to be an emotional night at Citi Field, the Cubs will try to win their first series against the Mets in New York since 2006. With Saturday’s victory, the Cubs are 3-2 versus the Metropolitans this season with one left to play.

Prior to Saturday’s game, Mike Quade mentioned he was toying with the idea of loading his lineup with the kids for tonight’s finale. The Cubs travel to Cincinnati following tonight’s game for a four game series with the Reds then it’s back to Wrigley for the final homestand of the season … three against the Astros and three against the Brewers. The Cubs last off day of the season is not until September 22 and Quade would like to give his vets a breather before a string of 10 games in row.

So, could the Cubs starting nine tonight feature Tony Campana, Bryan LaHair, Tyler Colvin, D.J. LeMahieu and Starlin Castro? And maybe if all goes well, John Gaub could make his big league debut.

The Cubs are 6-16 on Sundays in 2011 and tonight it all starts with Matt Garza …

Matt Garza is coming off back-to-back victories for the first time in a Cubs’ uniform and has put together three excellent outings in his last four starts. Garza held the Reds to three runs, one earned, on six hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings and has allowed just three earned runs in his last two starts (14 1/3 innings).

After posting a 3-2 record in six starts last month with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP, Garza is 4-2 in his last seven starts with a 2.23 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP … 49 strikeouts and 13 walks in 44 1/3 innings.

For as good as Garza has been this season, he has struggled on the road. Garza is 3-5 in 12 starts outside of Wrigley with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.

Tonight will be Matt Garza’s first career start against Ron Santo’s favorite team.

Jason Bay (3-for-15 with a double and 2 triples), Willie Harris (0-for-3), Ronny Paulino (1-for-3 with a double) and Justin Turner (0-for-1) are the only Mets on the active roster that have faced Matt Garza.

Miguel Batista started the season with the St. Louis Cardinals and posted a 3-2 record in 26 games, one start, with a 4.60 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. The Redbirds cut bait with Batista on June 22 and he signed with the Mets on July 4. Batista will make his third start with the Mets tonight.

Batista is undefeated as a Met (1-0 in two starts) and has put together two quality starts in both of his outings. Batista is coming off a no decision against the Nationals. He allowed one run on five hits in six innings with four walks and three strikeouts. Batista has walked (7) one more batter than he’s struck out (6) in his 12 innings with the Metropolitans.

Miguel Batista faced the Cubs three times this season, all in a Cardinals uniform and all in relief. The Cubs have not managed a run or even a baserunner in 4 1/3 innings against Batista this season. The veteran right-hander is 2-3 in 23 career games, six starts, versus one of his many former teams with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP.

Cubs Career Numbers against Miguel Batista

Jeff Baker – 1-for-5 with a double

Darwin Barney – 0-for-2

Marlon Byrd – 2-for-16

Tony Campana – 0-for-1

Starlin Castro – 0-for-2

Tyler Colvin – 0-for-2

Blake DeWitt – 0-for-2

Koyie Hill – 2-for-3

Reed Johnson – 0-for-7 with a walk

Luis Montanez – 1-for-2

Carlos Pena – 4-for-13 with 2 doubles

Alfonso Soriano – 2-for-24

Geovany Soto – 0-for-2

Cubs Photography
The CCO recently received an email from FishEyeVertigo.com about passing on info about some pretty cool Chicago photographs … created in a unique way.

For more info, including how the final photographs are assembled, please visit FishEyeVertigo.com